August 2, 2013

FDA Blog on Gluten Free Labeling

Gluten-Free Labeling Consumers Can Count On

Posted on August 2, 2013by FDA VoiceBy: Virginia A. Cox
Celiac disease is a serious health issue that can lead to critical complications if not treated.

While there is no cure for celiac disease (CD), there is one way to manage it – following a gluten-free diet. The only choice for the up to three million Americans living with CD is to adhere strictly to a gluten-free diet, avoiding proteins that occur naturally in wheat, rye, barley and cross-bred hybrids of these grains. To do otherwise is to risk gradually damaging the intestines, preventing the absorption of vitamins and minerals and leading to a host of other health problems, including nutritional deficiencies, osteoporosis, miscarriages, and cancer.

Without a standard definition of “gluten-free,” people with gluten-related health problems can never be certain if a food is likely to be tolerated by them. So as a person living with CD for over a decade, I’m delighted to say that today, FDA is mandating a new rule on food labeling that will help people with CD – people just like me –be able to trust what the words “gluten-free” mean on their food purchases. Not only will this help those with CD manage their disease more carefully, but it will also improve life for many others who are gluten intolerant or gluten sensitive.